Prince Harry, Meghan Markle welcome baby boy

Markle’s new royal baby will become seventh in line to the throne. His name and title will be announced soon.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed a royal baby boy on May 6. The baby weighs 7lbs.3oz.

"The Dutchess and the baby are both healthy and well, and the couple thanks members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives," the royal family announced on their official Instagram handle.

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, had reportedly gone into labour in the wee hours on May 6 for the birth of her first royal baby with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the Buckingham Palace had confirmed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex first announced Meghan Markle’s pregnancy in October, following their royal wedding in May 2018.

Meghan and Prince Harry have chosen to keep their birth plans private, announcing in April that they would celebrate the birth as a new family before “sharing the excited news with everyone”.

While the approach is a slight departure from the approach of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, who made their children’s births public, it’s not a radical shift from royal tradition.

Speculation that the birth was impending when Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, flew from the US to the UK in April. Markle herself was notably absent from an Easter service earlier in April, suggesting the baby was imminent.

Some reports had earlier suggested that Meghan wanted to do a home birth if possible at their Frogmore Cottage residence, outside of London. There were counter-reports suggesting that she will be taken to a nearby hospital.

Markle’s new royal baby will become seventh in line to the throne. His name and title will be announced soon.